Blogging for America

This site links political theory to practice.

Friday, March 31, 2017

Why Media Literacy is Important

See Clinton Watts' testimony in front of congress yesterday:
https://thinkprogress.org/clinton-watts-senate-intelligence-committee-trump-russia-fake-news-trail-of-bodies-1900e6fde054
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/congress/article141746659.html
http://clicklancashire.com/2017/03/31/senate-hearing-to-focus-on-russian-disinformation-tactics.html
http://www.newsmax.com/Newsfront/washington-post-fake-news-russia/2016/11/24/id/760599/
We have a resident sitting in the White House, who can not distinguish between truth or fake news or propaganda. And, he brags about not being prepared, listening to our own intelligence agencies, reading almost anything.
America, we need to teach our children well-- this is now our hell.

Wednesday, March 29, 2017

Visibility

Yesterday, the White House, the Peoples' House, took the United States another step back into the 1950s. I am not talking about rolling back the environmental regulations that give us Clean Air (& Clean Water), though those are also VERY important for things that breathe and Mother Earth. No, I am referring to the Trump administration's decision to NOT include sexual orientation or gender identity on the 2020 Census.
So, what does this really mean? Isn't the census for apportioning representatives? Taken every 10 years since 1790, yes, that is one of its primary purposes, but the other is more than the official count, but a survey of American households, housing, and workforce on which to base policy proposals. For instance, how many households are still without indoor plumbing, you know, flush toilets-- shockingly as of 2015 roughly 1.6 million people. (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2014/04/23/1-6-million-americans-dont-have-indoor-plumbing-heres-where-they-live/);This information is used to assess substandard housing and design policies to fix this.
So, what if the census does not collect data on gender identity and sexual orientation? Excluding LGBTQ persons, taxpayers, citizens from being counted means that justice is not being served, equality is not being reached. Information about same sex households informs the implementation of the Fair Housing Act-- yes, people can be refused housing in many states because of their sexual orientation ( and with the rise of religious Liberty laws, I bet this number of people discriminated against goes up). Same with the Violence Against Women Act, which when it was re-upped in 2015 also included LGBTQ persons and Native Americans, especially focusing on community programming and police training concerning issues of domestic abuse and sexual violence.
These two federal Acts, and there are more, that impact LGBTQ people. It is very important that LGBTQ persons be counted for our policies to help all of us be truly equal and achieve "liberty, and justice for all."
Not being counted means we are invisible, means we are being out back into the closet. Do not accept this, call your Senators & Congressional representatives.
see:http://www.out.com/news-opinion/2017/3/28/breaking-trump-administration-removes-lgbtq-people-2020-census

Tuesday, March 28, 2017

Being Woke

I think the best thing to have come from the Trump election & administration is that we the citizens ( and non-citizens) are woke, and we realize our responsibilities. Jean Jacques Rousseau had been right in writing that Republics were the worst form of democracy since the voters only pay attention at election time. But, we are now woke, we just have to keep paying attention and making our voices heard.

Saturday, March 25, 2017

Fingerpointing

Now that the Ryan Trump Health (don't) care bill was pulled before it could go down in defeat the blame game starts. I will cut to the chase-- both Ryan and Trump showed how ineffective they are in governing and policy making.
Ryan had the past 7 years to work on a replacement--but since he only needed to have it voted down, and was protected by Obama's veto, he did not do the heavy lifting of policy making and coalition building. What he did produce was inchoate, and heinous.
Trump also showed how ineffectual he is in governing, and though he brought in the disparate republican groups-- he did not realize/know/understand that the horrible 10 changes that the all white male Freedom Caucasus presented would further split the Republican party. (Could be because his "advisors" and cabinet are unsophisticated in governing and policy-making in a democracy--i.e., they are incompetent in this sphere).
And, then the two had the audacity to blame the Democrats, for not coming to the table--a. they were not invited, and 2. while they agree that there are tweaks needed, they are not about to repeal the ACA and replace it with garbage.
My advice: learn to govern, and govern for ALL Americans not just the top 2%.
see:
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/03/24/us/politics/the-health-care-blame-game.html

Thursday, March 23, 2017

Day 63

The Ryan-Trump Health Care Act was supposed to be voted on today. It is NOT a health care act; in fact it should be called: Hell We Don't Care it is a Tax Break for the 1% and their corporations. The authors of this so-called act do not understand how insurance risk pools work; they think its like a cafeteria, don't want coverage for pre-natal care cause you are a man and don't get pregnant-- don't pay for it--(even though it does take a male and a female to get preggers, but that's another lesson). 0nly pay for what you need NOW.
As 45 said "Nobody knew healthcare could be so complicated."
The fact that after 7+ years the GOP has not come up with a workable replacement, is an indication that they do not know how to make do-able policy and govern. The fact that what they have come up with-- to the best of anyone's knowledge, since we all have not seen it-- is a draconian and hateful policy. For those of the Representatives who call themselves pro-life, this is not a pro-life health care program-- there is no coverage for pre-natal care (because the men don't need it-- see the illogic in paragraph 1).

Monday, March 20, 2017

Day 60 & Spring equinox

Spring! Our winter doldrums should subside and the snow melt... which brings me to what we need to really focus on (besides Gorsuch hearings, Investigation of Russian interference and collaboration, health care proposals and our civil rights): the environment.
1. Pay attention to who is being appointed to environmental commissions. For instance, Bill Cooper is the proposed director of the White House Council of Environmental Quality. This is the council that oversees the implementation of the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA). He is a fossil fuels advocate and is pro=fracking. http://www.commondreams.org/news/2017/03/19/architect-federal-fracking-loophole-may-head-trump-environmental-council
2. The US & Saudi Arabia are pressuring the G20 to remove any mention of climate change from their communiques.
3. The "America First" Trump Budget, like his administration, is pro-big oil and not so much for Mother Earth, our children or us. (read it for yourself:
https://apps.npr.org/documents/document.html?id=3518196-2018-Blueprint)
4. Peak Oil is predicted for the late 2020-2030 (https://www.ft.com/content/47dbcb80-08ae-11e7-ac5a-903b21361b43), so why build pipelines (which become sunk assets); remove mileage standards from new cars; and not seek alternative sustainable energy?

Friday, March 17, 2017

Gun & 1% Budget Proposal

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Budget proposal

DJT's "Hard Defense" budget proposal will NOT make Americans safe. More Guns & Walls are not the only answer.
Ask anyone in the Pentagon, and you will hear that they need the State Department to re-build what the war machine has torn down (from government agencies to infrastructure).
Without adequate funding in Health and Human Services, Department of Agriculture, Department of Justice, Department of Education, Housing and Urban Development, EPA, Department of Transportation --we will be open to infectious diseases, water shortages, pollution, hunger, ignorance, climate change, homelessness, drug addictions, more infrastructure collapses.
Maybe Mad Max is your idea of dystopic future-- it makes for good movies, but reality, not so much.

Wednesday, March 15, 2017

Distraction

Yes, DJT earned a lot of money in 2005 ( and paid his taxes--though less of a percentage than most people's, and without the Alternative Minimum Tax, he would have paid about 4%-- less than the lowest income bracket). BUT those 12 year old 2 pages do not tell the whole story. We need to know who he is beholden to TODAY and how that affects his policy proposals.
The shiny 2 pages also distracts the media ( and us) from 1. the Russian Connections (and now the Chinese Connections) with him and his family and his administration; 2. The unsupported tweet that accused Obama of wire tapping Trump Towers; 3. The abysmal replacement legislation proposed for Americans' healthcare (caring only for the CEO's of the health insurance companies, caring NOT for the Americans who need the coverage); 4. today is the day that the new Muslim BAN becomes operational; 5. The perjurers who of members of his cabinet; and 6. his obstruction of truth, justice and the American way.
He has commented/Tweeted on Snoop Dog, but not on Rep. King's or any of the other white nationalists' comments.
We need to remind him he works for ALL of us. We shall not be distracted.

Tuesday, March 14, 2017

Public Health Crisis

IF 24 million people are thrown out of the health insurance system (because they represent NOT enough Profit for the Insurance Companies)do you wonder how these people will stay well, get well? Do you care?
Repealing and not exactly reforming Obamacare translates into creating a public health crisis.
Read the GOP proposal: https://housegop.leadpages.co/healthcare/

Monday, March 13, 2017

Do Not Normalize

Do not normalize:
Lies.
Do not normalize:
Racism.
Do not normalize:
Russia over America.
Do not normalize:
Greed Over People.
Do not normalize:
Hate.
Do not normalize:
Violence.
Do not normalize:
Anti-Semitism.
Do not normalize:
Islamaphobia.
Do not normalize:
Distractions.
Do not normalize:
Ignorance.
Do not normalize:
Homophobia.
Do not normalize:
Misogyny.
Do not normalize:
Regulation Rollbacks.
Do not normalize:
Service Budget cuts.
Do not normalize:
Wasteful Spending.
Do not normalize:
That which is unconstitutional,
Do Not Normalize.

Wednesday, March 08, 2017

International Women's Day

This morning:

@realDonaldTrump tweeted:
 On International Women's Day, join me in honoring the critical role of women here in America & around the world.
and: I have tremendous respect for women and the many roles they serve that are vital to the fabric of our society and our economy.
This from the man who now supports bans on abortion; re-imposed the global gag rule; is for separating women from their children at the border to discourage immigration; is rolling back VAWA implementation; has a HUUUGE Marine FB scandal on his watch; is supporting cutting Planned Parenthood funding; and is supporting the GOP healthcare bill which pre-Obama care made being a woman a pre-existing condition ( preganacy, battering...: OH, and thinks nothing of grabbing us by our genitals.
His honoring & respecting women is a lie-- unless they are his arm candy.
Really want to respect women: allow women to have full bodily autonomy, equal wages, good healthcare....

Monday, March 06, 2017

46 days of abnormal

It is day 46 of the # 45 's administration. It is an administration that is full of distractions and lies. Our public discourse is in shambles. Facts do not seem to matter. Intelligence gathered is not accepted.
#45 is very good with propaganda, and we are sucking it up-- "give him a chance" moderates cry. He accepts no responsibility for the consequences of his actions. It was because of HIS order that the Yemen raid took place. He knows no history, and has not realized the difference between business and governing. He IS getting richer off his position, the average American is getting poorer ( each weekend visit he makes to Palm Springs costs us $3million, his son has asked to be able to hire foreign nationals at the Trump Winery ( so much for hire Americans). He has imposed a federal hiring freeze, and is cutting federal jobs--(so much for more jobs).
Our democracy is sliding into an authoritarian state. Our borders are being closed to trade and people. Tourism is already down by 25%. Vetted refugees are being refused entry. At our borders women & children are being separated, ICE officers are raiding hospitals and churches. Laws are being signed into being that allow for polluting, and bribery.
# 45 is being advised by white nationalists. The cabinet is overrun with secretaries who are incompetent at best. They aim to dismantle the very agencies that they are charged with heading.
Do not NORMALIZE.
Question.
Make your local, state and federal representatives to do their jobs and uphold the Constitution. They work for US! Remind them daily.
Get involved.
Think about running for office yourself.

Dr.JAM is a professor of Political Science and Women's Studies at Marist College, Poughkeepsie NY. Her main focus is teaching students to be critical thinkers and active citizens. She worked in both the Koch and Cuomo administrations before returning to academia. She teaches Modern Political Thought, Contemporary Ideologies, Feminist Political Thought, American National Government, Political Ideas and Issues, Political and Social Movements, among other courses.
She writes a regular column (Walk the Talk) in InsideOut (tm). She has written many articles and books including The Historical Dictionary of the Lesbian Liberation Movement: Still the Rage (Rowman Littlefield, 2003). An active citizen, she served on the boards of Hudson River Sloop Clearwater (where she once was cook); The Grace Smith House,currently she serves on the (executive) boards of the Eleanor Roosevelt Center at ValKill and the Ulster County Democratic Women. $>